Dieffenbachia Plant Named &#39;MAROBA 3&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘MAROBA 3’ is a new and distinctive variety of  Dieffenbachia  which is characterized by a compact, upright growth habit with an abundance of dark green, glossy foliage borne on dark green petioles, unique foliage variegation with a moderate amount light greyed-green blotches along the secondary leaf veins with sparse blotches following a similar pattern in the interveinal areas, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2019/3233, filed Nov. 29, 2019, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Dieffenbachia Schott.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Dieffenbachia disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘MAROBA 3’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘MAROBA 3’ originated as a naturally-occurring, whole plantmutation of Dieffenbachia ‘MAROBA’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,220). InAugust of 2018 the inventor discovered the mutation at a commercialgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, growing amongst a crop ofDieffenbachia ‘MAROBA’. The mutation was noted for its freely-branching,compact growth habit, and unique foliage variegation and wassubsequently isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm thedistinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Uponconfirmation of distinctness and stability, the new Dieffenbachia plantwas selected for commercialization and given the name ‘MAROBA 3’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘MAROBA 3’, by way ofsoftwood stem cuttings, was first performed in the November of 2020 at acommercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Five successivegenerations so produced have shown that the unique features of theinstant cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MAROBA 3’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in the instant environment such as temperature, day length,and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. Thefollowing characteristics have been repeatedly observed and representthe distinguishing characteristics of the new Dieffenbachia cultivar‘MAROBA 3’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘MAROBA 3’ as anew and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. Dieffenbachia ‘MAROBA 3’ exhibits a compact, upright growth        habit with an abundance of foliage; and    -   2. Dieffenbachia ‘MAROBA 3’ exhibits an abundance of dark green,        glossy foliage borne on dark green petioles; and    -   3. Dieffenbachia ‘MAROBA 3’ exhibits a unique foliage        variegation pattern consisting of a moderate amount of irregular        light greyed-green blotches that generally follow the secondary        leaf veins with sparse blotches following a similar pattern in        the interveinal areas.

Generally appearing as a darker shade of green, relative to ‘REEVA’;moderately blotched with a mixture of yellow-green and greyed-greenalong the secondary veins which generally appears nearer to a light avery light greyed-green coloration; interveinal areas are slightlyblotched yellow-green.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make thesame in color illustrations of this type, an exemplary ‘MAROBA 3’ plantat approximately 35 weeks old, potted into a 21 cm nursery container,grown in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, Netherlands.

FIG. 2 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make thesame in color illustrations of this type, the typical foliage of ‘MAROBA3’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of Dieffenbachia known as ‘MAROBA 3’, based upon observations ofplants, approximately 35 weeks old from a rooted cutting, grown in 12 cmnursery container in a climate-controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, theNetherlands. Observation data was recorded in November of 2020. Plantswere produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols forDieffenbachia which consisted of regular 2.2 to 3.0 EC fertilizerapplications and regular irrigation. No pest or disease control measureswere utilized in production. Plants were produced under shade and nophotoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘MAROBA 3’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such measurements are approximations or averages setforth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 edition.

A botanical description of ‘MAROBA 3’ and comparisons with the parentand the most similar variety of common knowledge are provided below.

-   General plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Clump forming, upright perennial.        -   Plant form.—Broad ovate to near spherical.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast to fast growing.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Height.—47.7 cm.        -   Width.—61.8 cm.        -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 21 days to initiate            roots at approximately 24 degrees Centigrade.        -   Time to produce a finished plant.—Approximately 7 weeks to            produce a fully rooted cutting and 30 weeks to produce a            finished plant.        -   Environmental tolerances.—USDA Zones 10 to 13; at least            tolerant of temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius.            Moderate to high tolerance to rain inundation; low tolerance            to wind. Not drought tolerant.        -   Pest resistance and susceptibility.—Plants have not been            observed to be susceptible or resistant to pathogens and            pests common to Dieffenbachia.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fleshy; sparsely branched, and moderately dense to            dense root system.        -   Diameter of primary roots.—0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Yellow-white, nearest to a mixture of RHS 158B and            158C.        -   Texture.—Densely covered with minute root hairs.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Main shoots arise directly from the soil            and only occasionally branch.        -   Number of main shoots per plant.—5.        -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—1.        -   Appearance; cross-section.—Rounded.        -   Length of main shoots.—14.0 cm.        -   Diameter of main shoots.—4.3 cm.        -   Internode length on main shoots.—2.4 cm.        -   Aspect.—Erect; near vertical.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture and luster.—Glabrous, smooth and moderately glossy.        -   Color, juvenile.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C.        -   Color, mature.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145A.        -   Color at internodes.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145A.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Average of 10.        -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate with an abruptly acute tip.        -   Leaf base.—Truncate.        -   Aspect.—Slightly to moderately carinate, slightly reflexed.        -   Attitude.—Upward and outward.        -   Leaf length.—Average 29.8 cm in length.        -   Leaf width.—Average 16.9 cm in width.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire; moderately undulate.        -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Glabrous, glabrous and moderately            glossy.        -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Glabrous, glabrous and slightly            glossy.        -   Juvenile color, adaxial surface.—Nearest to in between green            and yellow-green, RHS 137B and 146A; areas surrounding the            secondary veins are heavily blotched and suffused            yellow-green, nearest to a combination of RHS 145C, 145D,            and 150D; interveinal areas are slightly blotched            yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147D.        -   Juvenile color, abaxial surface.—Nearest to yellow-green,            RHS 147B; areas surrounding the secondary veins are heavily            blotched and suffused with a mixture of yellow-green and            greyed-green, nearest to RHS 144B, 150D, and 192A;            interveinal areas are slightly blotched yellow-green,            nearest to RHS 144B.        -   Mature color, adaxial surface.—Nearest to in between green            and yellow-green, RHS NN137B and 147A; areas surrounding the            secondary veins are moderately blotched with a mixture of            yellow-green and greyed-green, nearest to RHS 148C, 148D,            and 194B; interveinal areas are very slightly blotched with            a mixture of yellow-green and greyed-green, nearest to RHS            148C, 194A, and 194B.        -   Mature color, abaxial surface.—Green, nearest to RHS 137B;            areas surrounding the secondary veins are moderately            blotched with a mixture of yellow-green and greyed-green,            nearest to RHS 148D and 193A; interveinal areas are very            slightly blotched with a mixture of yellow-green and            greyed-green, nearest to RHS 148D and 193A.        -   Venation.—Vein pattern — Pinnate. Vein color, adaxial            surface — Green, nearest to RHS 137A. Vein color, abaxial            surface — Nearest to a mixture of green and yellow-green,            RHS 143A and 144B.        -   Petiole.—Length — Approximately 2.3 cm, excluding the            petiole wing. Diameter — Petioles are subterete with a            somewhat flattened adaxial surface; average width is 1.05            cm; average height is 1.2 cm. Texture and luster, adaxial            surface — Glabrous, smooth, and glossy. Texture and luster,            abaxial surface — Glabrous, smooth and slightly glossy.            Color, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137A.            Color, abaxial surface — Nearest to a mixture of green and            yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 144A. Strength — Strong.            Geniculum — None present. Petiole wings — Length —            Approximately 13.5 cm. Width — Approximately 1.4 cm. Color,            outer surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146D. Color,            abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B and            fading lighter distally, nearest to RHS 145A.-   Inflorescence: No flowers observed to date.-   Flower bud: No flowers observed to date.-   Flower: No flowers observed to date.-   Reproductive organs: No flowers observed to date.-   Seed and fruit: No flowers observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MAROBA 3’ differ from its parent,Dieffenbachia ‘MAROBA’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,220), by thecharacteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘MAROBA 3’ ‘MAROBA’ Foliage size Smaller than‘MAROBA’. Larger than MAROBA 3'. General coloration of the A mixture ofgreen and Yellow-green, generally juvenile foliage; adaxialyellow-green, generally appearing as a lighter surface. appearing as adarker shade shade of green; of green, relative to moderately blotchedwith a ‘MAROBA’; heavily blotched mixture of green and yellow-greenwhich generally yellow-green which appears nearer to a light a generallyappears nearer very light green coloration; to a yellow or green-yellowinterveinal areas are slightly coloration. Irregularly, blotchedyellow-green. broadly margined green. General coloration of the Amixture of green and A mixture of green and mature foliage; adaxialyellow-green, generally yellow-green, generally surface. appearing as adarker shade appearing as a lighter of green, relative to shade ofgreen; more ‘MAROBA’; moderately heavily blotched with a blotched with amixture of mixture of yellow-green yellow-green and greyed- andgreyed-green which green along the secondary generally appears nearerveins which generally to a yellow or green-yellow appears nearer to avery coloration. Irregularly, light greyed-green coloration; broadlymargined with a interveinal areas are slightly mixture of yellow-greenblotched yellow-green. and green. General coloration Darker shade ofgreen, Lighter shade of green, of the main veins. relative to ‘MAROBA’.relative to ‘MAROBA 3’.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MAROBA 3’ may be distinguished from thecommercial variety Dieffenbachia ‘REEVA’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,666) bythe combination of characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘MAROBA 3’ ‘REEVA’ Foliage size Smaller than‘REEVA’. Larger than ‘MAROBA 3’. General coloration Darker shade ofgreen, Lighter shade of green, of the petiole. relative to ‘REEVA’.relative to ‘MAROBA 3’. General coloration of the Generally appearing asa Generally appearing as a juvenile foliage; adaxial darker shade ofgreen, lighter shade of green; surface. relative to‘REEVA’; heavilyheavily, centrally blotched blotched yellow-green with a mixture ofgreen and along the secondary veins, yellow-green which which generallyappears generally appears as a light nearer to a very light greenyellow-green. coloration; interveinal areas are slightly blotchedyellow-green. General coloration of the Generally appearing as aGenerally appearing as a mature foliage; adaxial darker shade of green,lighter shade of green; surface. relative to ‘REEVA’; heavily, centrallyblotched moderately blotched with a with a mixture of green and mixtureof yellow-green yellow-green which and greyed-green along generallyappears as a light the secondary veins which yellow-green. generallyappears nearer to a very light greyed-green coloration; interveinalareas are slightly blotched yellow-green. General coloration Darkershade of green, Lighter shade of green, of the main veins. relative to‘MAROBA’. relative to ‘MAROBA 3’.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dieffenbachiaplant named ‘MAROBA 3’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.